The human heart is an organ which pumps blood through blood vessels by rhythmic contractions. It is composed of several muscles, and is in every way a muscular organ. It is a composition of involuntary and cardiac muscles. Involuntary muscles are smooth and non-branching muscles that are uncontrollable. An average human heart beats 72 times in a single minute which means in a lifetime of 65 years, then it will beat about 2.4 billion times.

The human heart, the most fundamental of organs in the human anatomy, is located in the middle of the torso. Its apex is slightly towards the left and that is why it is often said that human heart is situated on the left side. Another reason for this is that the left ventricle of the heart pumps blood faster than that of right ventricle, thus one can observe heavier beating of the heart on the left side.

The heart performs various functions in the body. It collects the de-oxygenated blood from the veins, keeps it in the blood atrium, make it pure through pumping and passes freshly oxygenated blood throughout the body via the right ventricles. Unfortunately our hearts may develop problems and diseases as we get older. Diabetes and blood pressure cases are increasing day by day due caused as much by depressing and stressful lives as by a clinical condition, and these are directly affecting the working of the human heart. Many of the problems can be cured at best and controlled at worst by taking medical treatment for a specific time, but many diseases do not yet have any properly identified treatment or medication.

Resulting from hypertension, nervousness and stress, many people suffer from cardiac arrest problems when the heart stops beating. It can end in death if the heart is not restarted, or does not restart. To restart the heart mechanically a machine known as automated external defibrillator, readily available in most hospitals and within ambulances, should be introduced immediately.

High levels of cholesterol can cause dangerous cardiovascular disease. More and more people are becoming victims of high cholesterol levels. Unbalanced diets and high intakes of fats results is reckoned to lead inevitably artery diseases. Cholesterol is a blood fat, these fats often referred to as triglycerides, which is required by our body but it is all too easy for this to become out of balance. The excess intake of wrong foods resulting in high cholesterol levels causes atherosclerosis and leads to poor functioning of arteries and further risk of heart attack.

Cardiac strokes are also a serious disease becoming increasingly common these days. Along with poor diet, increasing age also increases the risk of strokes. Elderly people, especially women, have greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Racial factors also play an important role in the susceptibility to strokes as Negro women are more prone to heart attacks and strokes than Caucasian women. If there is family history of heart attacks, the chances to other members of the family suffering too, especially offspring and siblings, increase by 20-30 percent.

Typical symptoms of all heart diseases are high or low blood pressure, poor resistance of the body to infection and disease, skin problems, loss of appetite, emotional swings and so on. The best way to prevent heart disease is to eat only nutritious food that is low in fat and high in fiber and do lots of exercise. However, if a person already suffering from some heart problems, it is better to have proper medication along with exercise and proper diet.